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A species-specific nuclear receptor was integrated into a developmental polyphenism pathway
Eleni Katsougia1, Samantha J Connors1, Erik J Ragsdale1
1Department of Biology, Indiana University Bloomington, Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
Genetics
|July 22, 2025
Summary
A newly discovered gene, pnhr-3, in Pristionchus pacificus influences its developmental plasticity, enabling adaptation to different environments. This finding reveals how new genes rapidly integrate into existing pathways to regulate polyphenism.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Evolutionary Genetics
- Molecular Endocrinology
Background:
- Polyphenism allows organisms to develop distinct phenotypes in response to environmental cues, guided by molecular switches.
- The nematode Pristionchus pacificus exhibits feeding structure dimorphism (microbivore or predator) based on environmental signals.
- Nuclear Receptors (NRs) are key sensors of signals and potential regulators of plastic developmental pathways.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify molecular targets of plastic transcriptional responses in P. pacificus polyphenism.
- To investigate the role of Nuclear Receptors (NRs) in mediating polyphenism-related traits.
- To understand the evolutionary recruitment of genes into developmental pathways.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a reverse genetic screen of NRs influenced by polyphenism in P. pacificus.
- Performed phylogenetic analysis and microsynteny to characterize the identified NR gene, pnhr-3.
- Assessed the impact of pnhr-3 and other lineage-specific NRs on resource-dependent traits.
Main Results:
- Identified pnhr-3 as a novel gene influencing the sensitivity of P. pacificus polyphenism.
- Phylogenetic and microsynteny analyses revealed pnhr-3 is unique to P. pacificus and recently recruited.
- pnhr-3 and three other lineage-specific NRs impact resource-dependent traits, contributing to polyphenism.
Conclusions:
- pnhr-3 represents a recently evolved gene rapidly integrated into an established polyphenism regulatory pathway.
- This study highlights the rapid evolutionary timescale for adopting new transcription factors into developmental plasticity mechanisms.
- Lineage-specific NRs play a crucial role in shaping adaptive polyphenisms in response to environmental conditions.
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